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April 27, 2010

Since our Cook is on Vacation for almost a month, Me and my Brother rotates as cooks (it's just my second time though). For Dinner, I cooked Sinampalukang Manok or Chicken on Tamarind Soup and Daing na Bangus or Dried Butterly cut Bangus.

Cooking Sinampalukan is quite easy. Just Sauté Ginger and Garlic until Golden Brown then Add the Onions and the Chicken. Cook for about 10 minutes until the Chicken gets Tender. Add about 7 cups of Water. Bring to Boil for about another 10 Minutes then add the Tamarind Base Soup Mix together with leafy veggies of your choice. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes and your soup is ready to be served!

Preparing the Daing na Bangus is quite a difficult job which includes De-boning, Sun-drying and and Seasoning it taht is why Commercialized Daing are being sold on Supermarkets and even on the Streets here in the Country but of course, Preparing it yourself makes the Bangus extra special. This one, it was given by our Aunt and all I did was to Fry it. You can make it as Tender or as Crispy as you like!

Then of course, No Filipino meal is complete without your Suka-Bawang (Vinegar with Garlic) and Rice! Dinner is Served :D

April 24, 2010

I really really like the Latest Episode of SURVIVOR HEROES vs. VILLAINS!!! Seeing all the surprises that left the mouths not just the of castaways but us Viewers open wide! With JT gone, I'm quite sad because I like him and his Country Perspective but I really think this is the big result of what he did on last week's episode. Yes, I do think Parvati's Move was very very cool but yup, I think she went to far. She should have kept it even just one for future use. I think a factor why she did that is because she wants to show off. Correct me if it wasn't :) But I do love Parvati, I Love Russel I LOVE THEM ALL! Even JT, I was quite sad he went away, Yup I think it was a mistake that He gave the Idol to Russel but I'm surprised I wasn't that disappointed at him after all!

But of course, by the very first time I heard rumors about SANDRA being one of trhe players for this season, I WAS ECSTATIC!!! Seeing how she played Pearl Islands, I'm sure it'll be a very interesting season! Even if Russel was there, I still had all the hopes that Sandra will go a very long way! Imagine! Winning Pearl Islands without any Single vote casted against her UP UNTIL NOW!!! Well, I'm very very excited for the next episode!

BTW To those that think Sandra's ain't doing anything yet? Can anybody just think of what she did to Coach just to save her and Courtney's butts in the game? I call it Flawless! She knows that Russel is a very emotional player, his weakness and she aimed for it and she hit it! BULLSEYE! Though I was quite surprised that He voted for Courtney on that Tribal and even WROTE HIS SIGNATURE on the Parchment. But I came to realize that he did that so that Coach will vote for him if he swooped up till the Finals :D

CAN'T WAIT TILL IT'S NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE!!! But for all survivor fans, Aren't you bugged that when it's time for a BIG Episode when the Survivor Recap Episode Airs instead?

April 12, 2010

After Pagudpud, we went directly to Bangui Windmills. It is composed of 20 Gigantic Windmills, initiated last 2008, that supports almost 40% of Ilocos Norte's Electricity which is of big help to the People of the Whole Province. It is Officiated by Mr. Bong-Bong Marcos, its former Governor and is currently running for Senator on this May Elections.

As we went to Pagudpud, we already passed them by and by first sight, I felt so much Joy within. Seeing it with my very eyes is completely different from viewing it on Internet Photos and TV ads! And when we got there, of course, it is very much windy yet we are very fortunate that there are just a few number of visitors. We even bought small replicas of the Windmills and I really really like and which I can use for my upcoming Pinoy Christmas Village! Here are some photos of me and my friends at the windmills.

After immersing ourselves to the magic blown by the Mills, we went straight to the Town of Burgos, where the most amazing Lighthouse is watching over the coast of Ilocos Norte. It is a more-than-a-Hundred-Year-old lighthouse, Spanish Era Made, which is truly magnificent even for my third time visit. But the thing that made my visit much more different is that I did went inside and climbed upstairs. Though, I still haven't manage to get to the top unlike my friends because, yah, heights! And I actually am afraid of stairs. But I know I have to overcome these fears for a TRAVELER knows no such!

I always have a special love for Lighthouses. I remember my very first time there at Cape Bojeador and it is as well my very first time to see a real Lighthouse, I was very very happy as a child to see it! I only see Lighthouses on the Cross Stitch works my Mom did for me when I was a kid. Here are some shots of me and my friends on the Lighthouse.

The National Historic Institute Marker of the Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

The small scale model of the Lighthouse

View from the top. Doesn't it resemble the Tuscan Country side?

The Girls posing at the Base. They are actually my Classmates from Kindergarten

till High School and still one of my Best Friends.

Me and Manong Jun. The Coast Guard caretaker of the Lighthouse. Very nice Man

Stay tuned for the very last installment of my Ilocandia Escapade, VIGAN. Coming very very soon!

April 10, 2010

We left Laoag City by Van on Day 2 at around 8:30 am and Left for Pagudpud, the Northernmost Town in the Island of Luzon, largest Island in the Philippines. Beaches lined up and a lot of other attractions arrayed the whole 2 hour Drive going up there. Here are some of my Shots!

As a part of our Graduation Celebration, me and my High School Friends which are my Elementary and Kindergarten Friends as well, together with my Brother Wilson, decided to go up far North of the Philippines, Ilocos. I have been there twice but that was a very long time ago, 2000 and 2002.

We Boarded Farinas Transit and left Sampaloc, Manila at around 11:42 pm last Sunday, April 4th. It was a very long ride but our Bus was very very fast enough to get to Laoag City at around 9 am, the Capital of Ilocos Norte. Then a few minutes later, we got fetched up by Manong Rito, the Owner of Balay ni Carol wherein we stayed for the First Night. The House was very very Nice! Manong Rito and his very nice wife told us that it is not a hotel, it's like home away from home. And with their kindness and service what they told us was more than true, it's not just the home, but they became the family we had while staying at their place.

In the afternoon, after refreshments and some Lunch, we hoped up Manong Rito's car and he dropped us at the Jeppney Station going to Batac City, about 20 minutes away from Laoag. It was a long Jeepney Ride and we were looking quite haggard when we arrived. We went to the Marcos Mausoleum were his body is laid to rest and is open for Public Viewing, yes, his body is still at its perfect humanness. Rumors say that it is not his real body and just a wax figure but whatever it might be, the important thing is the remembrance of the late president which is evident throughout the whole Monument. We then went in the Marcos Museum, full of facts and memorabilia of his existence including this American Flag at my back.

The American Flag together with a Portrait of First Lady Imelda Marcos

inside the Marcos Museum at the City of Batac, Ilocos Norte

After our Historic Tour on the Marcos Museum and the Rest of the City of Batac, we rode a jeepney again but a shorter trip to the town of Paoay, Ilocos Norte. In here, you can see the Paoay Church which is one of 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites here in the Country. The Church was vast and truly magnificent! Every Shot I did, whatever angle, was truly amazing.

Me at the Facade of the Paoay Church

My Cousin Judy and our Friends Myrcel, Lea and Ivy at the Facade

The Whole Facade of the Paoay Church with the Bell Tower.

Me together with my Friends posing at the Ilocoano Calesa

The first Day was truly tiring and as we went back home to Laoag, I really felt sick and my diarrhea was striking me bad. But then at Night, we went around the City and Grabbed some delicacies like Bagnet (deep fried pork), Miki (Egg Noodle Soup) and Empanadas (Deep Fried Pastries filled with Longganisa, Papaya, Monggo Beans, and Egg. We went back home for a good night's sleep and praying that I'll be way better the Next Day.